2023 Holiday Hours

Monday December 25 - Closed
Tuesday December 26- Closed
Wednesday December 27- Closed
Thursday December 28 - 10-5:00
Friday December 29 - COFFEE NIGHT-6:00-9:00pm
Saturday December-30- 9:30-1:00
Sunday December 31 -Closed Monday-January 1st New years Day Dive Jay Street 1:00 and then we move go to winter hours

Start this season1:00 January 1 2024,for a New years Day Dive at Jay Street

New From Bob Evans the designer of Force Fins

By Gina Potthoff, Noozhawk Staff Writer | @ginapotthoff

If you didn’t make it to STSC’s Christmas party you missed the introduction to see one of Bob Evans. the designer of Force Fins newer items. The article below was written by Gina Potthoff, Noozhawk Staff Writer | @ginapotthoff back on January 4, 2016 and are now available at Sunken Treasure Scuba Center We gave away a kit as a door prize which was won by Liz Helms.

Drivers hoping to save some money on gas — and maybe the environment, while they’re at it — are the targets of a Santa Barbara startup.

Streamlined GasPods by AeroHance are exterior accessories that can be placed on vehicles to enhance airflow and efficiency through aerodynamics, reducing fuel consumption for most ideal users by at least 5 percent, founders say.

To visual 5 percent, picture a 10-by-10-foot prison cell full of carbon emissions, said Susanne Chess, co-founder of the GasPods project.

That’s what a person could save annually, helping to fight global warming.

According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards, Chess said, if just 133 average drivers reduced fuel consumption by 5 percent, the amount of carbon dioxide saved would fill Chicago’s Sears Tower.

AeroHance runs out of an office in the rear of Chess’ other business, Fine Fabrics, at 1307 State St.

Chess and her husband of 30 years, Bob Evans, have more than 30 years experience and more than 33 patents in fluid-form product design. They launched Bob Evans Designs, Inc. in 1985 and Fine Fabrics in 2004.

GasPods came out of yet another business. The longtime locals have designed and manufactured high-performance fins for water activities for the past 25 years under their Force Fin venture, which recently moved into a Pennsylvania manufacturing facility.

Evans is the idea man, and Chess is the businesswoman ironing out logistics.

“Fuel savings, they can’t work, some people say,” Chess told Noozhawk. “A lot of things hit the market early on that didn’t work. We decided we wanted to get a lot of data."

AeroHance had a soft launch at Santa Barbara’s Earth Day celebration in 2012, offering 40 percent off a $40-60 GasPods purchase if testers agreed to share their results and photos.Each GasPods kit comes with nine small pods that attach magnetically when placed 4-to-5-inches apart on the rear roof or spoiler of a vehicle.

Research finds GasPods work best on blunt-back vehicles like hatchbacks or mini vans, Chess said, creating a low-pressure area behind a vehicle.

“If you make a vehicle more aerodynamic, it will save fuel,” she said.

Seeing desirable results, GasPods ramped up efforts this year, marketing the pods as a much quicker fix than what the government is proposing — incentives for making fuel-efficient vehicles, which Chess said won’t absorb into the U.S. market for about 45 years.

If just 2 percent of the world’s drivers reduce fuel consumption by 5 percent, it would prevent 1.26 million metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere every year, Chess said.

Jean-Michel Cousteau, an environmentalist, oceanographic explorer and son of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, endorses GasPods on the company’s website.

Chess said a Prius owner saw as high as 17 percent in savings for long-distance driving, noting GasPods might not work on big trucks or buses because of their poor gas mileage and that pods don’t really kick in until a car hits 45 mph.

She was hopeful even the slightest savings might inspire drivers to do more for the environment in general.

“People want something to motivate them,” Chess said.

“They don’t want to take the bus one day a week. People don’t like changing behavior. If you just put these on your car and you have a car that works, it takes nothing to do. Save fuel to save money to save the world.”

Order Direct from AeroHance at https://aerohance.com/ and tell Susanne you got a special code( STSC) and she’ll add a special offer for you

Local scuba-diver finds a piece of railroad history in Loyalsock Creek

Joseph W. Smith III………Sep 5, 2022 Updated Sep 6, 2022

When a fallen steam locomotive was pulled from the waters of Loyalsock Creek in 1906, photos of the wreck showed the engine missing its smokestack; but no one ever noticed this. Not until John Smithkors found that smokestack lying in the creek more than 100 years later. It was July 2013, and Smithkors had decided to scuba-dive at the spot of the wreck, just east of the Route 87 bridge in Hillsgrove.

“I knew the history of it,” recalls the Dushore resident, who lived in Hillsgrove at the time. Having worked in the woods as a youth, Smithkors knew that lumber-laden rail-cars often carried chains, hooks, tools and other equipment. “If that train went off the bridge,” the diver told himself, “there’s gotta be something down there that they would not have recovered.

“But I didn’t expect to find anything like that.” In fact, Smithkors first thought the sizable, silt-covered relic was a culvert. But why, he wondered, would a culvert be lying so far from the road? And why upstream? And more important: Why was it tapered, with flanges where something had broken off? Rather than disturb the artifact, Smithkors finished his dive and phoned his brother, who pulled up photos of the engine’s extraction and noticed the missing smokestack.

A PIECE OF HISTORY

What the pair had stumbled onto was a well-known piece of Sullivan County history: Nicknamed “The Dinky in the Drink,” the accident involved a Climax B steam locomotive on a long-gone narrow-gauge railroad bridge.

uIt was hauling 21 cars of lumber—but the Hillsgrove span failed to support this heavy load because it was in the process of being dismantled. After plunging into the creek, the water-logged engine was hauled out and restored, continuing in service until 1949. Thanks to Smithkors, its missing smokestack now resides in the Sullivan County Historical Museum.

But that took a lot of effort. To begin with, even after talking with his brother, Smithkors still wasn’t certain what he’d found; so he went back into the water for some GoPro footage, then took that to the railroad museum in Strasburg, PA, where a similar Climax engine stands on display.

“That’s when I knew what I had,” the excited diver recalls.

Yet despite Smithkors’ certainty and interest, it was more than a year before the smokestack found its way to a showcase.

The diver’s first thought was that he could probably get it out and take it home—“put it out in my front yard and put a mailbox on it,” he jokes. “But I didn’t want that—I wanted to protect it; this is Sullivan County’s history.”

After all, if he kept it for himself, what would happen to the relic once he passed on—especially if it never got authenticated?

CALLING IN THE LAW 

“The thought process also went to, ‘Who actually owns that?’” Smithkors recounts. “The center of the creek is a property line. I wouldn’t want anybody coming onto my property and taking something that’s mine.” Eventually, he contacted a lawyer, who determined that because Loyalsock Creek is a commercial waterway, any artifacts found there belong to the State of Pennsylvania. So with the help of Sullivan County Historical Museum’s Melanie Norton, Smithkors submitted a three-page, 1100-word application to PA’s Bureau of Historic Preservation. In June 2014, they received an official permit to extract the relic.

But that process was even more complicated: It involved permission from two local landowners along the creek; a pair other divers working with Smithkors; inflatable airbags wrapped around the smokestack; a boom truck to hoist it from the water; and Adam Jenkins, a Philadelphia expert in metal preservation who insisted the smokestack be instantly placed into a large trough of the same creek water it came out of.

“If we exposed it to air, it would deteriorate rapidly,” Smithkors explains. (Continue reading On the PULSE)

Sunken Treasure Scuba Center Recognition

Sunken Treasure Scuba Center started in Jersey Shore back in 1978 and in just 3 short years received the distinction of being a PADI Training Facility. Then in 1984 we were recognized as a PADI 5 Star Training Facility. As we moved through the years we were recognized as a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center and a Green Star Facility. What does the future hold?

4 Reasons Why Enriched Air Nitrox Should Be Your Next Specialty

Enriched Air, also known as “nitrox”, allows divers to extend bottom time and reduce nitrogen loading. It is PADI’s most popular specialty course and with a little homework can be completed in one evening at Sunken Treasure Scuba Center.

* Breathe less nitrogen when you dive
* Longer bottom times
* Work towards further qualifications and learn about your dive computer
* Enhance your diving vacations

Enroll by 7/7/2023 and get your student kit so your ready for class on 7/14/23 - 6:00pm at the scuba center

With summer just around the corner and diving season just getting started, many people haven't been doing as much during the winter as they should have been to keep themselves or their equipment in shape.
   To get your equipment back in shape is easy.  Just take it to your authorized dealer and have its yearly service done.  No, equipment is not "OK" if it hasn't been used.  As a matter of fact, diving equipment is better off used than left setting around.  It's sort of like your body and if you haven't been working on keeping that in shape you know how hard it is to do the things you use to do.  You really don't want to be in the water and out of shape with equipment that doesn't work.
   To get yourself back in shape can be easy if you just dedicate a little time every other day.  Yes we all want to look good but it does take time.  Remember the old saying you have to crawl before you can walk.  Speaking of walking this is a great way to start getting back into shape.  Only about a half an hour a day will do and if you take someone from your family this is known as quality time.  All gain, no pain.  Walking is a low-impact, aerobic workout that burns the same number of calories as running the same distance-but with much less stress on the joints and muscles.  Remember most of all, to do some stretching before you start and when you finish.

10 Secrets to saving air

1  Alter your breathing pattern.  A relaxed divers natural breathing pattern underwater is: inhale-pause-exhale >>inhale-pause-exhale.
2  Breathe deep.  Slow down and give your body time to absorb oxygen efficiently.

3  Mimic a mime.  Move slowly and deliberately.  Water is 800 times denser than air.

4  Keep your hands to yourself.  Keep your arms close to your body and become more streamlined.

5  Stay neutrally buoyant. Perfect suspension, wear the least amount of weight that will allow safety stops at 15 feet.

6  Stay Horizontal. The most efficient body angle for swimming underwater is about 15 >>degrees.

7  Streamline your gear.
8  Stay Warm. Fact is warm divers use less air.

9  Fin efficiently. Swim at a slow, relaxed, steady pace
.10 Get experience and training. Diving improves diving.

Let the Adventure Begin!!!

Cold Hands—Warm Gloves from 4th Element made
from Ocean Positive Neoprene

Limestone Neoprene

During the neoprene production process, limestone is used to replace petrochemicals to form rubber chips. You achieve the same performance as traditional neoprene, but with way less environmental impact.

Recycled Rubber

One of the key ingredients of neoprene, Eco Carbon Black, is recycled by our wetsuit factory from post-consumer scrap tires. This significantly reduces energy consumption and cuts CO2 emissions by 200g per wetsuit.

After the neoprene creation process, the redundant trimmed materials will be recycled and reused in the mixing process to produce more neoprene sheets. Overall huge amounts of raw materials are saved, energy consumption is reduced and waste water and air emissions are minimized during production.

 Maximise thermal protection and dexterity with outstanding flexibility in this 3mm glove. Reshaped for 2021, the fit is improved with enhanced stretch across the back of the hand, whilst ensuring minimum water ingress thanks to fused seams. The longer length cuff can be trimmed to the wearer’s preferred length thanks to reinforced bar tacks in the wrist seams, allowing optimal comfort and performance.The 3mm gloves give outstanding dexterity - ideal for photography and videography. Features include: stretch neoprene for fit and comfort, and a Thermoflex lining for warmth, sealed seams to minimise water ingress, easy donning minimalist design, and a carbonite finish for grip and durability.also available in 5mm

Reviews:My hands always get COLD and a pair of my favorite WARM gloves I use to wear were of course where discontinued, the best part and the reason for their warmth I believe was the way the seams were sealed. These 4th Element gloves are made the same way…….Rich B

I used the gloves this past weekend for the PADI Rescue Diver class, and they were plenty warm for extended periods in 54 degree water in the Puget Sound. The gloves were thin and flexible enough for the endless rounds of removing gear from myself and various volunteer "victims…..John H

I use the 3 mil usually , but when the water gets below 50º at depth, I change to these and my hands are warm . I can still hit camera buttons with them also. Worth the price !!…..Stephen M

Completing Your Open Water Training

Please remember that you have only 12 months to complete open water training dives to complete your certification or you will be required to take a scuba review (cost $39.95). As time nears you can call the store to make arrangements to do your dives. Group training dives during the summer June 1st thru August 31st are $45.00/dive and $55.00/dive from September 1st thru May 31st. Please call or email us about one week before the desired dates. If these dates don't work you can schedule dives by appointment. Cost is $50/dive in the summer and $60/dive in the winter. All equipment needed for these dives is included in the cost. Four Dives are required for certification which we do two dives a day. First day all divers meet at Sunken Treasure Scuba Center. You can find our scheduled training dives by clicking here.

Words from an old Guy

Cressi-Sub USA Recalls Buoyancy Compensator Devices
Due to Drowning Hazard

Cressi has indentified that some metal fittings on the inflator hose can cause an airflow restriction and failure to inflate, or improper inflation of the BCD, posing a drowning hazard to the user

.This recall involves Scuba Buoyancy Compensator Devices (BCDs) with LP inflator hoses. The LP inflator hoses attach to the regulator first stage of the BCD. The following Cressi base models, as identified on the label stitched to the pocket on the BCDs, are included in the recall: Patrol (IC74160), Quartz (JIC74190), Start (IC72170), Start Pro (IC72190), Aquaride (IC74080), Travel Light (IC7406), Commander Evolution (IC771000), and Scorpion (IC77000). Only inflator hoses with serial numbers 007/22, 019/22 or 035/22 stamped into the metal fitting that attaches to the BCDs are included in the recall.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled scuba BCDs and contact Cressi-sub to receive a free replacement hose with installation instructions including a pre-paid mailing label for returning the recalled hoses

Consumers should contact Cressi-sub USA at 800-338-9143 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST Monday through Friday, or email at at orders@cressiusa.com.

Click here for more information and for instructions on how to identify the effected BCD's

Aqualung issues Calypso Regulator Recall

December 30 2021…..Aqualung is conducting a recall of specific batches of Calypso regulators on both Din & Yoke versions. These may have a quality defect due to a variation in the manufacturing process. Only some Calypso regulators with specific CPN’s (common part numbers) and serial numbers are affected by this recall.

Potential issue: A hole has been drilled out of specification in the high-pressure port, leaving a wall thickness in a vulnerable state. An uncontrollable free flow of the second stage could occur if this thin wall section should rupture under pressure. A pressure test has proved that an affected body will not rupture during a dive, however, it cannot be guaranteed in the long term.

Consumers are advised to immediately stop using their Calypso regulators, only if the serial number they own is part of the recall and return it to an authorized retailer asking for a replacement free of charge.

Click here to see the range of the serial numbers affected

Aqualung Group is announcing a safety bulletin
regarding the APEKS EXOTEC BCD

June 29 2022…..Aqualung Group is announcing a pending safety bulletin of a limited number of the APEKS EXOTEC BCD that have been produced and distributed since August 2021. The bulletin concerns four models where it has been identified the BCD should have a longer “Pull Cord”.
When the BCD is inflated, the grey pull dump knob retracts towards the stitched channel of the jacket. The channel then prevents the knob from further retracting and slightly opens the dump valve. As a result, the BCD cannot be fully inflated, which could lead to a lack of buoyancy control.

A total of four models have been identified to be affected by this issue. Please refer to the link below for reference to verify if your BCD is concerned by this bulletin:

Immediately stop using your EXOTEC BCD if it is one of the affected models in “Identification guide” provided in the link below

Return it to an authorized Dealer, the Dealer will make the necessary adjustments to allow the device to perform correctly.
Alternatively, customers can send the affected BCD for repair at
Aqualung Technical Center – After Sales
2105 Rutherford Road
Carlsbad, CA 92008
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact customer service at consumersupport@aqualung.com.

Click here for more information and for instructions on how to identify the effected BCD's

April 12 2022…..Aqualung Group is conducting a recall of its i330R Dive Computers produced and distributed in 2021 and 2022. It was identified that the dive computer does not automatically adjust its pressure level when diving at 900m (3000 feet) altitude or higher. We ask for customers to immediately stop using their i330R Dive Computer for diving activity until a mandatory firmware update is performed.

Customers should immediately stop using their i330R Dive Computer for diving activity taking place at 900m (3000 feet) altitude or higher

Customers are further asked to update their i330R dive computers by:
- Downloading a firmware update through DiverLog+ application or
- Bringing i330R dive computer to the Authorized Dealer from which it was purchased; the professionals of the dealer/dive center will be able to download and install the upgrade.

After the installation of the update, the new firmware revision shall read R1.004 or later.

Click here for more information and firmware update instructions

Here is a quick link to our latest Newsletter

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